Be the Box

I hear a lot of opinions on the value of a degree and certifications. While I firmly believe there is value in any form of education, I wanted to try and break down the idea into a simple concept. Something that we could all recognize. While I understand that there will be some controversy, exchanges, and differences in opinion, this is my take on it and thats all.

I am going to pick on the PMP, Project Management Professional Certification. I am sure there is a Trademark or Registered superscript in there somewhere, but I digress. I like to use the PMP cert because its marketed so much. I will compare it against a Master of Business Administration, an MBA degree. I chose this comparison based on a past experience I had. I was interviewing for a position and the interviewer insisted that a PMP and only a PMP would do and nothing else, let alone my MBA. I thanked him for his time and we parted ways.

So here is my best description:

Imagine one of those boxes with all the different shaped holes. You have all the various shaped wooden dowels with the corresponding holes. Now imagine that your PMP certification is the cylindrical dowel. You are supposed to put it in the box through the round hole, right? Well, you can do that, or you could put it any of the other holes if the opening will accommodate your cylindrical dowel. Now if you put your cylindrical dowel in the round hole, it fits perfectly, no spaces and no friction. It drops easily into the box. That's because it is a designed for that hole and the information, much like the dowel, leaves no space or lack of information in regards to that round hole, or your project management task.

However, if you choose to put your dowel in any of the other holes, you may notice that there are gaps around your dowel based on the shape of the hole. So, it’s not to say that a PMP is not versatile or able to be applied to other areas of business, but it does demonstrate that it is very specific to its environment. Those other holes that create gaps when you put the cylindrical dowel through them are the gaps in your knowledge, because the PMP is not designed or able to fill those gaps.

Now you are wondering what hole and corresponding dowel the MBA is. It doesn’t have one. The MBA is the box, all the dowels, holes, sides, top, bottom, and all. Those other dowels represent all those other areas of business such as finance, business development, information systems, organizational behavior, ethics and law, to name a few. And that is where a certification just can't fill those gaps. Which may mean you won't be able to fill those gaps in your company.

There are times and places for both degrees and certifications and some often compliment each other, but one does not suffice for the other. You get what you put into your degree or certification. I was fortunate and I got a lot out of my degree. I wouldn't trade it for anything. If the PMP or any other certification is all you want or need, go get it. But if you want more, then pursue the degree. I think we should recognize the value of each form of education before we close the door on it.

For me, I don't want to be a dowel, I want to be the box.